In the new issue of Knitty, my latest design – the Alice Cap – is featured. Can we say THRILLED? I loved designing this hat, with its modern-day Roaring Twenties-inspired appeal.

I’ll confess that I’ve not designed a lot of cables (although I love including them in my designs), yet I wanted a dramatic cabled crest at the front of this hat. In addition, I had to invent a knitted interpretation of the pleated detail that is a notable Art Deco element of so many hats from the 1920s. Finally, I wanted a bit of sparkle – blame it on my lasting case of “Ooh, Shiny” syndrome.

Setting myself these tasks required a bit of trial and error before I found exactly the look I was after, and exactly the right button for the “ooh, shiny” detail.

The Plucky Knitter’s Traveler and Bello Worsted were sumptuous yarns to work with, and the colors (Morticia – the black, and Old Copper – the green) have a richness and depth that make them sing. Plus, the generous cashmere percentage? It can’t be beat for warmth. You won’t hear me complain.

The second thrill in this twofer is that in the same Winter issue, Knitty also reviewed my newest book, A Head For Trouble. You can read the entire review here. To paraphrase Sally Field when she won her Oscar, “They like it! They really like it!”

First up was a memorable afternoon at Sheep’s Clothing in Valparaiso, IN for last weekend’s Head For Trouble trunk show and book signing with owner Paula and friends.

Then on Sunday, I was fortunate to attend a book signing at the Spice House in Old Town for Dorie Greenspan, a James Beard-award winning chef, cookbook author, and all-round adorable person.

Her books Around My French Table and Baking From My Home To Yours are in heavy rotation in my kitchen, and now that I have an autographed copy of her new book – Baking Chez Moi – it will undoubtedly become one of my favorites as well. As delicious as her recipes are, I’ve always found her writing style approachable, her recipes inventive yet based in the classics, and her book production consistently a feast for the eyes.

I’m looking forward to Hannukah all the more knowing that her new book will be waiting for me!

This week is all about celebrating a slew of November birthdays – my husband’s is today, my mother’s is Friday, and my mother-in-law’s is next Monday.

But even lots of gift-wrapping and cake-baking hasn’t kept me from knitting the extra samples I’ll need for a workshop I’m teaching on the 22nd. In between, I’m trying to finish a secret project for my daughter when she comes home to visit in late December. So some knitting is getting done after all!

]]>http://www.julieturjoman.com/2014/11/nov-12-2014/feed/1Nov. 10, 2014http://www.julieturjoman.com/2014/11/nov-10-2014/
http://www.julieturjoman.com/2014/11/nov-10-2014/#respondTue, 11 Nov 2014 00:35:22 +0000http://www.julieturjoman.com/?p=4641Saturday’s Head For Trouble trunk show and book signing at Sheep’s Clothing in Valparaiso, IN was so much fun! Owner Paula has such a lovely and knowledgeable staff, and wonderful customers, that I felt immediately at ease.

With lots of space at the front of the fabulous shop, there was room to display every one of the projects from the new book, as well as the cool, drapey garments from Knits That Breathe.

Staffer Debbie was kind enough to model several of the hats from A Head For Trouble, including the one inspired by detective character Maisie Dobbs, which was her absolute favorite:

It looked absolutely perfect with her bobbed hair style. In addition, she wore her version of one of the garments from Knits That Breathe – the Zephyr tunic – in an alternative fiber. Lovely!

Paula wore her versions of both Iced Frappuccino and Zephyr throughout the day, which definitely encouraged customers to try making their own.

All in all, a very fun day!

]]>http://www.julieturjoman.com/2014/11/nov-10-2014/feed/010/30/2014 – A Head For Trouble and VK Livehttp://www.julieturjoman.com/2014/10/10302014-a-head-for-trouble-and-vk-live/
http://www.julieturjoman.com/2014/10/10302014-a-head-for-trouble-and-vk-live/#respondThu, 30 Oct 2014 20:37:23 +0000http://www.julieturjoman.com/?p=4581The pre-order promotion for A Head For Trouble will expire at 5:00 PM CST tomorrow, Oct. 31.

If you’ve been too busy to place your order and take advantage of the free bonus patterns that are available, now’s the time to give yourself a moment to treat yourself to a book that you’ll enjoy and use for years.

Here are some of the options for your free bonus pattern:

The Head For Trouble launch at VK Live was fabulous; many copies of the book went home with many wonderful knitters who are excited about the Roaring Twenties-inspired projects.

Some of my favorite moments from the event included a meet and greet with Barbara Walker at the Gala Dinner on Saturday night:

As if I wasn’t rendered starry-eyed enough by this brush with knitting celebrity, who should be sitting next to BGW during the photo op below, but Meg Swanson. These two brilliant knitters are literally larger-than-life, and it shows here:

]]>http://www.julieturjoman.com/2014/10/10302014-a-head-for-trouble-and-vk-live/feed/010/20/2014 – It’s He-e-e-re: A Head For Trouble Launcheshttp://www.julieturjoman.com/2014/10/10202014-its-he-e-e-re-a-head-for-trouble-launches/
http://www.julieturjoman.com/2014/10/10202014-its-he-e-e-re-a-head-for-trouble-launches/#respondMon, 20 Oct 2014 21:06:44 +0000http://www.julieturjoman.com/?p=4560Thought I’d surface for a bit to report on the launch of A Head For Trouble last week.

After all, it’s important to come up for air now and then, even during a very busy time. The enthusiasm that greeted the release of this new book has been truly wonderful to behold.

It seems to have struck a chord with knitters who watch shows like Downtown Abbey, see the amazing 1920s clothing designs worn by Lady Mary and the rest of the family, and wish they could own knitted versions of them. I don’t know about you, but I can imagine Mary heading off in the cloche below to manage the latest estate crisis.

It was inspired by Carola Dunn’s lady detective character, Daisy Dalyrymple, who never left home without her “emerald green cloche” in the first few books of the series.

And can’t you just picture Downton’s newly chic Lady Edith swanning off to London in the cap below? It was inspired by Agatha award-winner Catriona McPherson’s series featuring the lady detective Dandy Gilver, who is a proper lady only when it suits her. Sound like anyone else you might know?

It’s also been so interesting to see the countries from which knitters are ordering the book; the U.S and Canada, of course. But also France, Denmark, and the U.K., where the e-book has been especially popular, probably because mailing a paperback to Europe, I recently learned, costs $23.50 via Priority Mail International – almost as much as the book itself!

A Head For Fashion, the bonus collection with six additional Roaring Twenties-inspired hat and accessory patterns, has been equally well-received. The Coco Cloche, above, has been a favorite.

Here’s the deal: Anyone ordering both the paperback AND the e-book of A Head For Trouble together will get the bonus collection PDF for free until Oct. 31. Anyone ordering either the paperback OR the e-book of A Head For Trouble will get the single pattern of her choice from the bonus collection. Either way, it’s always a treat to get something free!

]]>http://www.julieturjoman.com/2014/10/10202014-its-he-e-e-re-a-head-for-trouble-launches/feed/010/15/2014 – A Head For Trouble pre-order promotion begins today!http://www.julieturjoman.com/2014/10/10152014-a-head-for-trouble-pre-order-promotion-begins-today/
http://www.julieturjoman.com/2014/10/10152014-a-head-for-trouble-pre-order-promotion-begins-today/#commentsWed, 15 Oct 2014 15:37:08 +0000http://www.julieturjoman.com/?p=4550This is it, knitting friends. The official pre-order promotion for my new book, A Head For Trouble, begins today at 12:00 noon Central Time. I couldn’t be more excited if you told me I’d won the lottery!

To kick off the launch, I’m offering some special bonuses when you order either the paperback or the electronic versions of A Head For Trouble, or both together.

I’ve mentioned them before, but let’s review the specials one more time so you can jump right on the one you want!

Pre-Order Promotion #1:

Order BOTH the paperback AND the electronic versions of A Head For Troubletogether, and you’ll get to download the entire 6-pattern mini-collection PDF of my bonus book, A Head For Fashion. That’s this 46-page book right here, complete with interactive links to the project pages on Ravelry as well as sections devoted to ensuring your success with the patterns, yarn resources, and where to find the unique notions and embellishments that make the projects so delightful:

Pre-Order Promotion #2:

Order EITHER the paperback OR the electronic version of A Head For Trouble separately, and I’ll email you the PDF to ONE pattern of your choosing from the 6 options in A Head For Fashion. Here they are one more time:

Caroline Toque

Coco Cloche

Coco Fingerless Mitts

Simone Cloche

Jane Slouch Cloche

Suzanne Toque

And that’s it. Make one of the two choices above, and collect your special bonus. Sounds like a lovely way to kick off the afternoon!

]]>http://www.julieturjoman.com/2014/10/10152014-a-head-for-trouble-pre-order-promotion-begins-today/feed/110/13/14 – A Head For Fashionhttp://www.julieturjoman.com/2014/10/101314-a-head-for-fashion/
http://www.julieturjoman.com/2014/10/101314-a-head-for-fashion/#respondMon, 13 Oct 2014 14:21:52 +0000http://www.julieturjoman.com/?p=4456The HEAD FOR TROUBLE count-down continues. Take advantage of the pre-order promotion, and your very own copy (signed by yours truly, if you so desire) will ship to you the week of October 26th. Get ready to make a little trouble!!

To whet your appetites further, here are the last two of six total designs from my upcoming mini e-book collection, A Head For Fashion:

Please say hello to Caroline (the lovely toque on the left) and Jane (the fetching slouch cloche on the right), both of which already are up on my Ravelry Designer project pages with all the details.

For a very short time (Oct. 15th – 31st, 2014), you can get either one of these patterns for FREE when you pre-order either the paperback or the electronic version of my new book, A HEAD FOR TROUBLE; What To Knit While Catching Crooks, Chasing Clues, and Solving Murders.

If you order both hard copy AND electronic version, you’ll get the entire mini e-book, A Head For Fashion, with all six patterns. Watch my SHOP section for ordering specifics, coming on October 15th.

]]>http://www.julieturjoman.com/2014/10/101314-a-head-for-fashion/feed/010/10/14 – A Head For Trouble pre-order promotions (continued)http://www.julieturjoman.com/2014/10/101014-a-head-for-trouble-pre-order-promotions-continued/
http://www.julieturjoman.com/2014/10/101014-a-head-for-trouble-pre-order-promotions-continued/#respondFri, 10 Oct 2014 14:54:55 +0000http://www.julieturjoman.com/?p=4453With only six days to go until the launch of A Head for Trouble, say hello to Coco, a fetching cloche and fingerless mitts combination, both of which are included in my bonus mini e-book collection, A HEAD FOR FASHION.

Chanel was the designer who, during the 1920s, popularized comfortable jersey knit fabric for women’s clothing, when it had previously been relegated to the manufacture of men’s underwear.

As a style-maker, she was a great proponent of the high-low mix; blending expensive couture pieces with costume jewelry, for example. Her brand, encompassing clothing, handbags, and even the iconic Chanel No. 5 perfume, is successful even today.

The Coco Cloche and Fingerless Mitts are two separate patterns in A HEAD FOR FASHION. The patterns include instructions for the sweet knitted roses and leaves you see in the photos, naturellement. Unexpected texture, and tiny mother-of-pearl buttons at the cuffs are extra special embellishments that make these two projects unique and easy to personalize.

]]>http://www.julieturjoman.com/2014/10/101014-a-head-for-trouble-pre-order-promotions-continued/feed/010/8/2014 – A Head For Trouble Count-Downhttp://www.julieturjoman.com/2014/10/1082014-a-head-for-trouble-count-down/
http://www.julieturjoman.com/2014/10/1082014-a-head-for-trouble-count-down/#respondWed, 08 Oct 2014 21:46:23 +0000http://www.julieturjoman.com/?p=4441Only one week to go until A Head For Trouble‘s pre-order promotions begin.

I hate to admit it, being a grown-up and all, but I’m having a really, really hard time containing my excitement.

Because given my tendency toward excess, I couldn’t just create a new book with 20 projects in it.

Oh, no.

That would be far too restrained for me. Sometimes I believe, to paraphrase Mae West, that “too much of a good thing is wonderful.”

So here’s what I did: I designed a collection of six bonus patterns – five additional hats and an utterly charming pair of fingerless mitts, also inspired by the Roaring Twenties. These will be available online as a PDF only. Let’s have a little sneak preview:

All six of these bonus patterns have been collected into a mini e-book called A Head For Fashion, and you’ll be able to purchase it right around the same time that A Head For Trouble is released.

Why A Head For Fashion, you ask? Each of the six bonus projects is inspired by a female fashion designer who was known for her innovative hat creations, and was active during the 1920s, such as Rose Talbot (one of her stunning millinery designs is modeled below on the left) and Simone Mirman, who rose from poverty to become “Milliner to the Queen” of England during her long life:

But here’s the really exciting news: if you pre-order both the hard copy and the e-book of A Head For Trouble together during the promotional period of October 15-31, 2014, you will get this bonus e-book for FREE.

If you decide you want only the hard copy or the electronic version of A Head For Trouble but not both, of course that’s fine, too. Not to worry – you’ll still get something extra special.

Purchase either the hard copy or the electronic version during the promotional period, and you will be able to choose any one of the six bonus patterns from the e-book for FREE.

The individual patterns from the bonus collection will be available to purchase both on Ravelry and here on my website for $5.00 each. The mini e-book collection will be available to purchase as well, for $14.95…. and any way you look at it, that’s an amazing deal. The collection includes special features such as detailed instructions for sizing and styling to ensure your success with the patterns, as well as resources for the fabulous notions you’ll see on the projects.

Just in time for holiday gift-knitting, A Head For Trouble is nearly ready to launch! It has been really, really hard to keep this big project a secret, but the wait is nearly over. In fact, the pattern basics are now up on Ravelry, so you can decide which to knit first.

I hope you’ll feel moved to pull out your treasured skeins of luxury yarn, and work up some of these special designs.

I got a few advance copies of the book last week, and couldn’t be more excited about the way it turned out.

The theme is quirky, I know. But how better to combine my passion for 1920s fashion with my love of literary mysteries that feature strong female crime-busters?

As a knitwear designer, nothing gets my creativity more fired up than a challenge like the one I set for myself with A Head For Trouble.

For all of us who adore Downton Abbey and similar period TV shows, we know that it’s the fabulous fashions as much as the compelling story lines that keep us tuning in week after week, and season after season.

And again, as a knitwear designer with a penchant for period fashion, it was a thrill to set myself the task of interpreting the Roaring Twenties for today’s knitter.

The 1920s was a time of unprecedented change for women. Also known as the “between the wars” period because WWI had ended and WWII was not yet even a distant rumble on the horizon, in the 1920s women enjoyed freedoms that had previously been exclusive to men.

Without getting too lecture-y here (but I do love history!), for the first time women were holding jobs in traditionally male professions. They owned and drove their own automobiles. They sought higher education in greater numbers, and the right to vote became a lightening rod issue of the day.

We see all of these forces at work in period dramas like Downton Abbey, and fashion was perhaps the most visible manifestation of the new freedoms that women demanded.

No more corsets, bustles, or “dressing” one’s hair into an elaborate coiffure. Skirts were shortened and tops became loose and drapey to allow for freedom of movement. Women bobbed their hair into a short, manageable style known as a “shingle,” or an “Eton crop.” These new hair styles necessitated new hat styles to complement them, and that’s where A Head For Trouble comes in.

As you’ll soon see, A Head For Trouble includes all the hat styles popular during the Jazz Age, along with the most important accessories to accompany them. And I can hardly wait to share them with you.